Brayden
Yager
C · WPG
- WAR
- -0.1
- PTS
- 0
2025-26№ 440 / 615
Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Brayden Yager
#29C
Winnipeg Jets
HEIGHT : 180 cm · WEIGHT : 82 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : January 2, 2005 · Saskatoon, Canada
Drafted : 2023 · PIT · round 1, pick #14
Contract : $950,000 · 2024-25 → 2027-28 · Entry-Level Contract · RFA · Signing bonus $95,000
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Winnipeg Jets | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | Winnipeg Jets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
Brayden Yager: our analysis
2025-26 season: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 +/-, 10:59 TOI. WAR -0.1 (440th of 615).
Brayden Yager is in his first season in the league. In 2025-26, He his WAR of -0.1 ranks 440th among 615 regulars, in the bottom half.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), no component is positive; the costliest: finishing (-0.2).
Brayden Yager's story
A childhood split between Prince Albert and later Saskatoon set the scene for Yager’s rapid rise; born January 3, 2005 in Saskatchewan, he first made waves with the Martensville Marauders, posting 35 goals and 24 assists in 31 games before exploding for 44 goals and 59 assists the following bantam season. Still underage, he moved up to the Saskatoon Contacts in midget AAA and, at 15, produced 18 goals and 24 assists in 44 regular-season contests while leading the team in playoff scoring with eight points in six games.
Moose Jaw selected him with the third overall pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, and pandemic circumstances allowed him to debut in major junior at 15 without the usual exceptional-player ruling. In 2021–22 he set a franchise mark for 16-year-olds with 34 goals in 63 games and earned the WHL's Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as well as CHL Rookie of the Year honours.
Elevated to alternate captain in 2022–23, Yager reached new personal bests with 78 points and 50 assists, finishing second on Moose Jaw and 22nd among WHL scorers; that season he received the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. Scouting lists placed him among the top prospects ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, and Pittsburgh took him 14th overall.
The 2023–24 campaign consolidated his profile: across 57 games he recorded 35 goals and 60 assists while logging only 20 penalty minutes, won the Hornung Trophy again and was named CHL Sportsman of the Year. He was instrumental in Moose Jaw’s run to the WHL title, contributing 11 goals and 16 assists in the playoffs. The Warriors then reached the Memorial Cup where Yager added three goals and three assists in four games and earned a spot on the tournament All-Star Team.
Turning pro, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on July 25, 2024; on August 22 the Penguins traded his rights to the Winnipeg Jets. On December 2, 2024 he was moved to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a multi-piece deal. Internationally, Yager represented Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring five goals and four assists in five games as the team captured gold.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 12:53
- PP TOI/GP
- 1:48
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:43
- Pts/GP
- 0.33
- EV points
- 0
- Hits
- 1
- Blocks
- 0
- Takeaways
- 1
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 45.4 %
- Off. zone starts
- 26.7 %
- Faceoffs
- 46.7 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Prospect value
Scout Report Center →Rank
74
among all 32 teams' prospects
Rating
90/ 100
percentile among prospects at his position
Potential
70/ 80
First line or top pair
Ceiling: 9.1 WAR from age 21 to 26
NHL probability
53 %
of playing 200 NHL games from age 21 to 26
Expected WAR, age 21-26
2.8
the most likely outcome
NHLe
17
NHL points over 82 games, from 2025-26 (AHL, 68 games)
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.1
wins above replacement
-0.1 to 0.0 — 90% interval
440 of 615 forwards
-0.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- 0.0
- EV defense
- 0.0
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- -0.2
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.1
In goals.
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 120.7 km/h14th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.7 km/h14th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 310th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 39.1 %19th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 7.2 km6th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.64 km22nd percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 38.8 %13th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 20.1 %99th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 40.8 %37th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 311th percentile | 024th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| High danger | 221st percentile | 034th percentile | 0.0 %10th percentile |
| Mid range | 010th percentile | 054th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 031st percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
TBL
VAN
DALBrayden Yager: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Brayden Yager have in 2026-27?
Brayden Yager has 1 goal and 1 point (0 assists) in 3 games in 2026-27.
How old is Brayden Yager?
Brayden Yager is 21 years old: he was born on January 3, 2005.
How tall is Brayden Yager, and how much does he weigh?
Brayden Yager is 5'11" (180 cm) and weighs 181 lb (82 kg).
Where is Brayden Yager from?
Canada: Brayden Yager was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
What team does Brayden Yager play for?
Brayden Yager plays for the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL, at C, wearing number 29.
Is Brayden Yager injured?
No: Brayden Yager is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Brayden Yager?
Brayden Yager produced -0.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 440th of 615 players at his position in the NHL.
How much does Brayden Yager make?
Brayden Yager carries a cap hit of $950K per season, on a contract worth $4.4M in total over 3 years.
When does Brayden Yager's contract end?
Brayden Yager's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be a restricted free agent.
Is Brayden Yager a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 440th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
How has Brayden Yager played lately?
Over his last 3 games, Brayden Yager has 1 point (1 goal, 0 assists).
What are Brayden Yager's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Brayden Yager has 5 games, 0 goals, 0 assists and 0 points. His best season: 2026-27, with 1 point in 3 games.
Where was Brayden Yager drafted?
Brayden Yager was drafted 14th overall (round 1) by Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023.
How does Brayden Yager perform in the playoffs?
Brayden Yager has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Is Brayden Yager related to anyone famous?
Yes: Cam (father, goaltender for the Detroit Falcons in the Colonial Hockey League).
What is Brayden Yager's nationality?
Brayden Yager is Canadian. Internationally: Canada men's junior national team: gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (5 goals, 4 assists in 5 games).
What awards has Brayden Yager won?
CHL Rookie of the Year — 2022 ; Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL Rookie of the Year) — 2022 ; Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy (WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player) — 2023 ; Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy (WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player) — 2024 ; CHL Sportsman of the Year — 2024 ; Memorial Cup All-Star Team — 2024.
How many championships has Brayden Yager won?
1: Ed Chynoweth Cup (WHL champions) with the Moose Jaw Warriors — 2024.
Where did Brayden Yager play before turning pro?
Martensville Marauders (Saskatchewan Male U15) 2017–2019; Saskatoon Contacts (SMAAAHL) 2019–20 and following season; drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) third overall in the 2020 Bantam Draft.
See also: his Winnipeg Jets teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)